The Breakfast Club - ICE CUBE - The Big3 is Here to Stay

Episode Date: July 10, 2023

Ice Cube is a pioneer in hip-hop. He has been able to thrive in the music and film industry and is now expanding into sports.   In 2017, Cube founded, "The Big3" - a black-owned three-on-three-premier global league that features many of the most popular and skilled athletes of all time. The league offers an opportunity for great ballers to coach and continue playing the game they love in front of home-court fans.  As the Big3 continues to expand, there are some who oppose its growth, Adam Silver the current commissioner of the NBA in particular. Cube joins us to go over in detail the obstacles of the Big3 and we also address the rumor about the Super Bowl.  Connect:  @CariChampion @IceCube @TheBig3 Learn More: Big3.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The word was you did not perform in the Super Bowl show because the halftime show was because you are not vaccinated. Is that true? No, no. So that was a rumor. Okay, so tell me, I was such a rumor. I mean, I wasn't invited to perform. Ice Cube, legendary West Coast rapper, was not invited to perform at the Super Bowl? How is that possible? We get into it on this edition of Naked. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more.

After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast Post Run High is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. You know that rush of endorphins you feel after a great workout? Well, that's when the real magic happens. So if you love hearing real, inspiring stories from the people you know, follow, and admire, join me every week for Post Run High. It's where we take the conversation beyond the run and get into the heart of it all. It's lighthearted, pretty crazy, and very fun. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's up? This is Ramses Jha.

And I go by the name Q Ward. And we'd like you to join us each week for our show Civic Cipher. That's right. We're going to discuss social issues, especially those that affect black and brown people, but in a way that informs and empowers all people to hopefully create better allies. Think of it as a black show for non-black people. We discuss everything from prejudice to politics to police violence, and we try to give you the tools to create positive change in your home, workplace, and social circle.

Exactly. Whether you're black, Asian, white, Latinx, indigenous, LGBTQIA+, you name it. If you stand with us, then we stand with you. Let's discuss the stories and conduct the interviews that will help us create a more empathetic, accountable, and equitable America. You are all our brothers and sisters, and we're inviting you to join us for Civic Cipher each and every Saturday. With myself, Ramses Jha, Q Ward, and some of the greatest minds in America. Listen to Civic Cipher every Saturday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

What's up, y'all? This is Questlove, and I'm here to tell you about a new podcast I've been working on with the Story Pirates and John Glickman called Historical Records. It's a family-friendly podcast. Yeah, you heard that right. A podcast for all ages. One you can listen to and enjoy with your kids starting on September 27th. I'm going to toss it over to the host of Historical Records, Nimany, to tell you all about it. Make sure you check it out. Hey, y'all.

Nimany here. I'm the host of a brand-new history podcast for kids and families called Historical Records. Historical Records brings history to life through hip hop. Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history. Like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it.

And it began with me Did you know, did you know I wouldn't give up my seat Nine months before Rosa, it was Claudette Colvin Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records. Because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. hey everybody welcome to a new edition of Naked. So glad that you guys are all here.

You're going to enjoy today's episode. We have Ice Cube on the show. This is his second appearance on Naked. When I initially started the podcast some three years ago, he was one of my first guests. And he's always willing to come on and talk, especially if he has something he wants to talk about. And at issue for him now is the big three. He is talking about the league in which he created and how happy he is it's doing well. However, Ice Cube is running up against some problems, and it's fair. It's fair that he's running up against problems. I understand when

you're new and you're a small business and you're trying to do things in a major way, you're going to find a few roadblocks. So just by way of background, I'll set the scene. was that this league, which consists of 12 teams featuring former NBA and international players, would give people some form of athletic entertainment when there is none. The Big Three doesn't play when the NBA season is in. It is right after the season. And it goes, honestly, with the idea that there are very few summer sports. Makes perfect sense. He's been able to amass some of the greats in terms of people who play for the league,

who coach for the league. Some true legends are there. And I think it's interesting because he does a tour around different cities. In fact, they'll be playing at Barclays by the time you hear this podcast. They have done this for the last six seasons or so, and I'm very impressed. But what I didn't know is that Ice Cube has been trying to get the NBA

commissioner and Adam Silver on board. He's been trying to get Adam Silver to help him get more sponsorships to perhaps have the NBA partner with the big three. But that hasn't been the case. And he believes that they can work together. In fact, he said his own words, which you'll hear in the podcast, he and Adam Silver used to be friends. And now it's been a bit contentious. If you follow Ice Cube or any of the socials,

you know that he's been talking about this daily. And for lack of a better term, I think he feels as if the big three is being blackballed. And he is very honest about a meeting that he had with Adam Silver. He talks about on the podcast today where he wants to see the big three go. The reason why I think this is important, especially in my world of sports, we're watching in real time sports washing. That's what the term is, sports washing. Saudi Arabia has already bought the PGA. They're moving to tennis. They're already in wrestling

and racing. It's only a matter of time before they get to the NBA. You heard it here. I'm being honest. That's just what it is. Money conquers everything. Cash rules everything around me. Y'all know that's all. So with that being said, I asked Cube if in fact he would be interested in working with the Saudi Arabian, the investment public fund is what it's called. And he said he would rather keep everything here on American soil. But if it goes that way, it goes that way. It's an interesting conversation about what I thought was a family friendly league, the big three, trying to grow and those around him and his opinion and Cube's opinion, not allowing it to grow. We also get into, which I think is really super interesting. Why the heck he was not at the Super Bowl during the West Coast honoring? Did y'all, did y'all, what y'all asking yourselves that? Why the heck was he not there? I thought it was because I heard a rumor. Clearly, he clears it up. I thought it was because he

wasn't vaccinated. Y'all, he keeps it a buck. I was shocked by it all. And then finally, I get into what's the biggest misconception about Cube? You guys will enjoy this edition of Naked. Sit back and relax as he gives us a little education, a small education on what's going on with the Big Three. I'm a champion and carry champion and carry champion. What is your ultimate goal for the Big Three? Are you, is it, is it happening now? Or do you have a different vision? Or you want to grow it in a different way?

We're growing the league. The league continues to grow. We want to be a viable option for ballers who find themselves for some reason. With the NBA, it's not always skill level. Sometimes it's a numbers game. There's only 12 spots per team or 15 spots per team. So a lot of, you know, quality, great ballers get left out or washed out. So, you know, we want to have a place where you can still play. You don't have to go overseas.

You can play in front of your family and friends and fans here in America, professional at the highest level. And how we're growing the sport is we're now selling teams. We're in the process of selling teams to owners, and they'll put teams in different cities, and we'll be able to grow from there and expand to 16 teams in 2024 and so on. What owners are you selling them to? Are you selling to NBA owners or you're selling to people who have the money to buy the team? And what's

the typical buy-in, if you don't mind sharing? Well, I mean, NBA owners want to buy in. Several big name owners have, you know, showed interest, but because of the bylaw that is in place that, you know, that Adam Silver and Mark Tatum, they can really waive it. The law says they can't invest in a competing league. Now, in no way, shape, or form, anybody can see that this big three is no way they can compete with the NBA. So we're not competing. So we think that clause needs to be dropped when it comes to the big three. Now, NBA owners can invest in pickleball. They can invest in the TBT league, which is the

basketball league. They can invest in slam ball, which is coming back. But, you know, what makes the big three so special at the end of the day? So we believe that, you know, we're being basically looked at unfairly by those two or the top brass at the NBA as a competitive league, and we're not. Who do you, so you're, okay, so if you can test this law, this rule that they have created, how do you go about doing that? Because you guys aren't competing. Why is it that you all are the issue? So how do to try to talk to adam you know he's he's the really the only force that's stopping this great collaboration um the thing is is we have a place for players and the nba when the nba doesn So, you know, why would he stop? You know, he's not going to give Iceman a head coaching job or Rick Barry, you know, or Michael Cooper or, you know,

and these are guys who went through the NBA, you know, made the NBA what it is. And now they're coaching in the big three as head coaches and um and they're trying to stop the league every way shape and form so it's just it really don't make crazy man sense and so we just want we want somebody to talk some sense into adam silver because i think this is gonna end up hurting his legacy more than he know. At the end of the day, he's going to be known as the guy who tried to stomp out the only black all league in America with his former players and coaches.

Don't make sense. June 25th, you released a video on Twitter and you called them a club of gatekeepers. I want to make sure I have that accurate. Specifically, later on in an interview with Sports Illustrated, you said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is in opposition to Big Three. And you said they're blocking sponsorships from companies like Nike and calls into question antitrust laws. He says, you say that you've had contentious meetings with them and you don't understand why. Do you know for a fact, in terms of proof, they're blocking sponsorships? They're telling people not to sponsor the big three?

Yeah, I mean, we've had, you know, people we call, you know, from the C-suite, the C-E-O-C-M-O-C-O-O's basically tell us that they can't do nothing because we haven't worked out a deal or whatever with the NBA. And so, you know, it's definitely them telling these, not only sponsors, but also networks. We had a great deal going that got, you know, somehow stomped out because of our relationship with the NBA. So, you know, we we've had people actually tell us, you know, I don't want to name names because. Obviously, they're scared of the NBA or nervous about their relationship with the NBA. So, you know, they don't want to step on any toes when it comes to that. And so I just think it's not right. Pretty sad.

And it has to be dealt with the best way we know how, which is, you know, making it known publicly and then exercising all the rights that we had. It reminds me of, and it happens all the time, it's big brother, little brother. And when they have the power, most everyone wants to deal with the NBA. But it sounds like you're saying, for lack of a better term, they're blackballing you. Like they're saying to you, don't deal with them. If you deal with them, you can't deal with us. Is that what you're feeling? That's what I'm feeling that's happening to, you know, some of the major sponsors out there that, that deal with basketball, you know, it's not a large pool. It's very small pool of major Fortune 500 companies that advertise and push their products through basketball.

So having them talk to one spot, let alone multiple, having them talking to one network, let alone multiple. If you think about all the networks that run basketball, you know, you can count them, you know, mainly on one hand and you don't need your thumb. So there's a very small amount of people we can go to to get this product more exposure. And to have them going to those people and discarding them from doing it is it's heartbreaking. And it got to stop because at the end of the day, you know, they think they heard nice cue on one guy, you know, I pay these guys. So they're not hurting me. They're hurting is the guys who depend on this check,

depend on this exposure to continue their career, depend on this game. The big three for, for a lot of mental health that we provide just by giving guys who are professional athletes a place to play. So we're doing so much for people. So many people make a living off the Big Three and earn money when the big three come to town it's just a shame to have such a giant like the nba using their mic to stomp us out and what's crazy is it's not working so they really need to stop is it personal does adam silver have a personal issue with you what does he believe about you that would make him think he doesn't want to be in business with you?

I don't know. You know, like I said, the meeting we had, it was we was explaining to him what we were trying to do. We was actually offering the NBA a piece of the league free. And he basically said, you but no thank you um and then you know we was telling him what we were uh gonna do with the league um and that we thought that him not letting a few players play um because they were under these like promotional contracts with teams. And we thought that wasn't right. And we were frightened. And so he probably didn't like how the meeting ended. Why didn't he like it? You know, maybe it's all because we told him

that he wasn't going to kill our league in the womb. You know, he probably didn't like that. So now you have been very vocal about what is happening, which normally does not happen. That's the opposite of how I'm sure people handle the NBA when they're not happy with the NBA. And you have made it very clear that since its inception, your league has been doing very well. Now, you are hoping that somehow someone talks some sense into Adam Silver. Do you think that relationship that you have with him is a foregone conclusion in terms of any type of mediation and working it out? Not at all.

You know, we're businessmen. You know, we're not, not to me that far apart um but you know it's really up to him you know i don't i don't i don't i'm not holding a grudge at all on that you know i think at the end of the day we tried for six years to handle things behind the scenes. And when they continue to happen and they hurt the league, it's our job to do whatever we can to protect the league. And this is part of it. So I would hope the other owners see that this is no good for the NBA to take this position against the only black-owned basketball league in America

that has their former players. I'm pretty sure their players don't like it because one day they may look up and find the big three as an option for them. So, you know, it really comes down to Adam Silver and the top brands to not consider us competition. They don't have to get rid of the top brands to not consider us competition. They don't have to get rid of the bylaw. I think what they should be worried about is, you know, I'm hearing that the ABA is coming back.

You know, a bunch of foreign money is about to be, you know, put into 50 five pro basketball. So what they really need to do is to be connecting with another American client to make sure that we protect American basketball. Because at the end of the day, the money is going to dictate where players go usually. And if foreign money comes in with the ABA, they're going to have a lot more problems to deal with than the big three.

Would you, and we've been talking about this a lot lately in sports about the Saudi investment fund, would you take money from the Saudis to build up big three and make it more competitive? I would do what I need to do to protect the league and protect the investors. But why should I when there's enough American bred money people out here to make it happen? You know, so we would hope we wouldn't have to go that route. But we are not taking any of our options off the table when it comes to survival of the big three. And then one one other question I want to make sure I'm clear on. If you want to grow the league and you're asking owners,

NBA owners more specifically, to buy teams and put the teams in their cities, is that what you were saying? Not just NBA owners. Owners in general. We've been talking to a few major league baseball owners, a couple of NFL owners. So we're talking to people

who want to own a big three team. The appreciation value, team ownership is through the roof. So it's definitely a great investment. So we're just looking for the right people to do it. And there are a lot of NBA owners that want to do it, but because of this bylaw, they can't. And that's a shame because these are basketball people who understand the game inside out and could help grow the league. And, you know, they love what we're doing. They love what we're doing for players. They're keeping them here in America

so they don't have to go overseas and play. So it's a great thing that we're doing and it's going to work. Hey, everybody, don't go anywhere. Cube has already broken down what happened with the big three. When we come back, I also ask what's going on with the Super Bowl. He didn't

perform. Why is that? He tells us in just a few moments. Thank you for listening to Naked. Hey, guys. I'm a champion and carry champion and carry champion. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going.

That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories from the people, you know, follow and admire join me every week for post run high. It's where we take the conversation beyond the run and get into the heart of it all. It's lighthearted, pretty crazy, and very fun. Listen to post run high on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's up? This is Ramses Jha. And I go by the name Q Ward. And we'd like you to join us each week

for our show Civic Cipher. That's right. We're going to discuss social issues, especially those that affect black and brown people, but in a way that informs and empowers all people to hopefully create better allies.

Think of it as a black show for non-black people. We discuss everything from prejudice to politics people, but in a way that informs and empowers all people to hopefully create better allies. Think of it as a black show for non-black people. We discuss everything from prejudice to politics to police violence, and we try to give you the tools to create positive change in your home, workplace, and social circle. Exactly. Whether you're black, Asian, white, Latinx, indigenous, LGBTQIA+, you name it. If you stand with us, then we stand with you. Let's discuss the stories and conduct the interviews that will help us create a more empathetic, accountable, and equitable America. You are all our brothers and sisters,

and we're inviting you to join us for Civic Cipher each and every Saturday with myself, Ramses Jha, Q Ward, and some of the greatest minds in America. Listen to Civic Cipher every Saturday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, y'all? This is Questlove, and I'm here to tell you about a new podcast I've been working on with the Story Pirates and John Glickman called Historical Records.

It's a family-friendly podcast. Yeah, you heard that right. A podcast for all ages. One you can listen to and enjoy with your kids starting on September 27th. I'm going to toss it over to the host of Historical Records, Nimany, to tell you all about it. Make sure you check it out. Hey, y'all. Nimany here. I'm the host of a brand new history podcast for kids and families called Historical Records. Historical Records brings history to life through hip-hop. Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history, like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused

to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it. Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records. Because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey everybody, welcome back to Naked. Thank you for being patient and fast-forwarding through the commercials, but we have to pay the bills, as we say. Without further ado, here is legendary West Coast rapper Ice Cube. I'm making it plain so I know that I understand it. You are very honest in the fact that you believe Adam Silver is blocking an opportunity for players and for the

Big Three and for the basketball community as a whole. There should be another option if you don't play in the NBA or if you're not in the G League and you're a young kid. There should be another option. And that option, in your opinion, is the big three. And you're finding Adam Silver saying, no so I don't I don't get why there is such a back and forth or why he wouldn't want to support it like I said you know it doesn't make sense um and we don't want to just think about those same old things that we always think about when things don't make sense okay so at the end of the day the end of the day the end of the day um i don't understand why he would want to hurt former it's fair to say that if you as a black man there may be an issue there may be an issue there it's fair to say that not that we want to go there but it's fair to say that, not that we want to go there, but it's fair to say that.

Race always is a factor. It's never not a factor. It would not be true, especially in the time that we live in today, what's going on in the world as of late today. That just would not be true. Can you tell everybody when the next game is so I can make sure that I publicize this? Or where can they go with the schedule? Big3.com and get, um, every other,

your TV schedule and who's playing. Yep. Big three.com. My next game is at Barclays in Brooklyn this Sunday. Um, and you know, we got games all day. We're celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip hop.

Got some New York groups coming through like, uh, MOP and, um, going to keep it moving. And Tony Allen just joined the league, which is great. Congratulations. You're still doing it. We hit Boston and we hit Memphis. Yeah.

You're still doing it. It's coming together. Yeah. It's coming together. I'm very, very happy for you. I'm happy to see your dreams materialize. That's a beautiful thing. Speaking of dreams materializing,

I had my full dream. I'm going to do a hard, hard, hard right turn here. So you've answered this question, but I'm curious. I missed you at the Super Bowl and we were like, where's Q? Now, the word was you did not perform in the Super Bowl show

because the halftime show was because you are not vaccinated. Is that true? No, no. So that was a rumor. Okay, so tell me. That was such a rumor. I mean, I wasn't invited to perform.

You weren't invited to perform. I wasn't invited to perform. I actually had a show that day, too. I think it was Utah. I think it was Salt that day, too. I think it was Utah. I think it was Salt Lake City. Yeah. Okay.

I want to go back. Uh-huh. They do a tribute to West Coast hip-hop, and Ice Cube was not invited to perform. Is that what you're saying to me? That's exactly what I'm saying. Okay. Okay.

You know why? Because I feel like when I do the Super Bowl, I'm going to do an Ice Cube show. I get it. I know you didn't trip. I'm talking about the people who wanted to. I'm speaking for fans. I get you're fine. I'm talking about the fans who were like, it just the sentiment was very clear. It was special, but it just would have been on a whole nother level if Cube was there. We're going to not include him? Is it because is there a personal issue there? Or is it because what you may represent to someone? No, not at all. I don't get it. I don't get why you're not invited.

I think it was really about the songs and the artists that Dre, you know, kind of personally touched in a way. Oh, okay. They, you know, kind of personally touched in a way. Okay.

They, you know, we were in the same group. We kind of came up together. But I left the group in 89. Like, I left the group in 89. Dre was a different producer in 89 than he is now. He's done different things between now and then. You know, Chronic,

Snoop, 50, Eminem. You know, those are when Dre was totally, fully matured as a producer. So I just think he, he took more of the groups that were really under his wing.

You know, we was in a group together okay okay i guess yeah so okay well this is the only thing i can say that it was it's no animosity i i can tell you i felt a way you didn't feel a certain way about it i didn't feel nothing yeah you were like it's fine you know dr dre done left me off the songs before so anybody know that's you know he gonna he gonna do what he feel is working and what what makes the show right for the time and who you know it's hard to understand sometimes what trey is thinking but he a genius. We roll with it. I mean, when he call, we ready.

When he don't call, we still ready. You know what I mean? All right. I respect it. Look, you not mad. I can't be mad. Let me tell the Cube Hive to chill out. Like, we all good over here.

It's all good. It's all good. So when you do the Super Bowl, it will be the Ice Cube show. It will be all about you. And when you do do it, do you bring out anybody? Do you bring out? Yeah, I bring out a few people. You know what I'm saying?

I bring out, you know, what makes sense. But, yeah, you know, I don't want to jump on nobody else's show. You know what I'm saying? I'm kind of glad I wasn't asked, you know, because I'd rather wait and do it myself when it's an ice cube show. OK, well, let's claim it. It's done. Then it is done. All right. Then I'm there. I'm at that Super Bowl. Make sure it's warm. Let's get a warm location. I want to ask you about this past weekend. You performed Essence and I believe E-40 was with you right how was that

how does it feel you just mentioned you were like you left the group in 89 it's so interesting how does it feel to be a pioneer in this game and it's still so very young we're celebrating 50 years of hip hop and it's still so very young

even at 50. But honestly, a pioneer in this game. What are your thoughts? It feels great. Like, you know, as a young emcee, this is where you want to be. You want to be respected, influential. You want to have a couple of classic hits under your belt. And, you know, people give you love and respect wherever you go. You know, this is where you want to be. So, you know, I feel great. It could have went a whole different route, a whole different way.

And so definitely better than being a one hitter quitter. So having longevity and I feel blessed to play at a very high level for a long time. Yeah, it doesn't happen even in sports. Like I say what you want about LeBron, like his shape, physical endurance, being in his prime for 20 years. It doesn't happen. And that is very much the equivalent of your career, the longevity, how you've been able to do different things, leaning into things that you know are better for you or what you can do here, like showing different sides. Did you ever think growing up in South Central that, and maybe you did, but you'd be in movies.

You'd be this entrepreneur. Did you see this vision? I mean, I dreamed of it. All of this? You saw all of this? I mean, I got it. No, I didn't see it. I dreamed of being in a position where I could be creative on different levels.

Musically, you know, I could be as creative as I want to be. And now movies, which teach you how to be creative in three dimensional way. And now sport, which is creating a stage for great athletes to show you what they got, you know? So it's all creating. And I just feel blessed that I wasn't stuck in one area.

Like I wasn't just stuck doing records and nobody would know what I had to offer movie-wise. And people love my movies. So, and now sports, I think people love the big three. A lot of it has something to do in the summer when it's boring. Just envision the league as it grows and we have more games during the week and things like that. It's sometimes hard to convince people what you got before they can fully see it.

But if people give you a chance and grow with you, they'll see exactly what you was talking about. And I'm just blessed that I've been able to do that in different areas. Congratulations. I'm happy for you as well. I love to see you thrive, not survive, but thrive. Every champion and carry champions to be a champion. I'm a champion and carry champion and carry champion. I'm a champion and carry champion and carry champion. Greatest, greatest in sports and entertainment. Connect it with me. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max.

You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. You know that rush of endorphins you feel after a great workout? Well, that's when the real magic happens.

So if you love hearing real, inspiring stories from the people you know, follow, and admire, join me every week for Post Run High. It's where we take the conversation beyond the run and get into the heart of it all. It's lighthearted, pretty crazy, and very fun. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's up? This is Ramses Jha. And I go by the name Q Ward. And we'd like you to join us each week for our show Civic Cipher.

That's right. We're going to discuss social issues, especially those that affect black and brown people, but in a way that informs and empowers all people to hopefully create better allies. Think of it as a black show for non-black people. We discuss everything from prejudice to politics to police violence. And we try to give you the tools to create positive change in your home, workplace, and social circle. Exactly. Whether you're Black, Asian, White, Latinx, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, you name it. If you stand with us, then we stand with you. Let's discuss the stories and conduct the interviews that will help us create a more empathetic, accountable, and equitable America. You are all our brothers and sisters, and we're inviting you to join us for Civic Cipher each and every Saturday with myself, Ramses Jha, Q Ward, and some of the greatest minds in America. Listen to Civic Cipher every Saturday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So, y'all, this is Questlove, and I'm here to tell you about a new podcast I've been working on with the Story Pirates and John Glickman called Historical Records.

It's a family-friendly podcast. Yeah, you heard that right. A podcast for all ages. One you can listen to and enjoy with your kids starting on September 27th. I'm going to toss it over to the host of Historical Records, Nimany, to tell you all about it. Make sure you check it out.

Hey, y'all. Niminy here. I'm the host of a brand new history podcast for kids and families called Historical Records. Historical Records brings history to life through hip-hop. Flash, slam, another one gone. Bash, bam, another one gone.

The crack of the bat and another one gone. The tip of the cap, there's another one gone. Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history. Like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it. Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records. Because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What do you think is the biggest misconception about Ice Cube?

That I'm mean. That's probably the biggest misconception I'm made. Shocking. Why would people say that? Because you don't smile. You very good. You can do a half a smile. I see you do a half a smile one time

but why do they think you're mean because you just mind your business and you say to yourself probably because I'm direct and um I don't try not to mince words sometimes they mince because my

you know but for the most part you know. Yeah. But for the most part, you know, I try to just be direct. You know, some people guess they like you. Yes. Yeah. Yes. Pleasant all the time. I don't know what the hell it is, you know.

It rather be pleasant. I'm pleasant, but I'm just not, you know, always chipper. I know. Chipper doesn't go with your swag. Chipper, no, no, doesn't go with the swag that you have. I don't see that. Okay, so if you had a choice, these are my closing questions for you,

and you could go, I'm talking about your typical vacation. Would you want to go to a city or a beach? Beach. If you could take one item with you, like one thing you cannot live without on this beach, what would it be? My iPad. You only could take one thing.

Yeah, iPad. What's on your iPad? That's how you do your business. That's how you communicate. It's your brain. It has all the stuff in there. Yeah, I mean, you know, it's a way to enjoy your vacation, but still answer them questions that need to be answered.

You know, so I don't mind, you know, like when i when i go on vacation i want to throw everything down i know i don't want to wait 10 days before i find out you know i mean tell me now yeah i need to know you know i mean as it happens i need a, you know, I need a on the, on the same reporter, you have for you so you can respond, someone comes to you and says, you can only do one thing. You're really great at these two things, but you can only do one of the two. Would it be rap or would it be act at this stage? Oh,

really? Oh, okay. Yeah. Cause you know, I can make songs how I feel them. Movies are a committee. A lot of people that chime in, a lot of people have to bring their skills and talents to create one movie.

But I could create three, four songs in a day if I'm moving, I'm rolling. So I like that creative freedom, you know, more than making movies. I appreciate that. Ice Cube, literally a trailblazer in every sense of the word, and someone who disbelieves in what he believes in and stands by it. Thank you so much for joining me on the podcast and taking time to explain what's happening with the big three. My hope is that you get this worked out with Adam Silver.

But if not, someone else comes along and helps you build this to where you want it to be. Yeah, man, I appreciate it. Thanks for having me on. I'll come on anytime. The thing is me and Adam was cool before I started the big three. I bet. I bet. Don't come here and bring it.

It's like when the student becomes the teacher you're like, wait a second. I thought you, oh, okay. Now you're competition. It's the name of the game in every way. In every single way. No problem. No problem. We're not competition.

We will. Let's do this together and we can make something. You want unity. Among us. Yep. Of course. You know, the players want it too. I don't know why Ice Cube would say people think he's mean.

It's just shocking. Shocking, guys. Shocking. And I'm being sarcastic. That's the sarcasm dripping through my body right now. I definitely am afraid of that man. I don't know about y'all. But it's nice to hear his perspective. And I do want to reiterate that he is very clear that he wants to work with Adam Silver. There is no beef. He wants to make it a friendly association, not necessarily a competition in any form or

fashion. So this isn't an anti-Adam Silver podcast. It's just saying, hey, this is what's going on. I want to bring it to the attention of people. Maybe somebody can help. Maybe Adam Silver is not seeing it my way. Maybe calmer heads will prevail. I don't know. Who knows? But I appreciate him for saying that at the end of the day, he's trying to be a businessman, if you will. I want to get into something a little more personal, something that happened this past week with Affirmative Action Ruling. Every now and again, I use this platform to talk about things that I find completely unfortunate in society. But I'd be here all day if I did, if I didn't do that in a way that I felt was smart. So today I'm going to try to do that in a smart way. So no affirmative action. Supreme Court rules that race cannot be

a factor in admissions. Race as itself separates you from people, period. So that doesn't make any sense. However, they're okay with legacy admissions, meaning if your parent or grandparents went to a certain school, you automatically, for the most part, are accepted into that school. That's called a legacy admission. You know, if my mom built a building at UCLA, you better believe anybody in our family is going to go to UCLA for the rest of their lives because we have a legacy there, if you will. That's what that means. And there are a lot of people who feel like affirmative action takes away opportunities for other qualified majority students. And that is just not the case.

And I am speaking to you as a beneficiary of affirmative action. I went to UCLA and when I was admitted into UCLA, it was very clear that standardized testing wasn't on my side. I did not do well on the SAT. But there are a lot of things that go into that. The school district that you're in, the preparation that you can either pay for or get for free. We obviously could not afford to pay for preparation. So I was able to take these classes for free that my local high school offered. Now, if Tim goes to a high school and his parents are doing well,

and they can give him a different type of preparation for the SAT, you better believe he's going to probably do better than me. And I'm not saying Tim should be faulted because his parents have money and society has allowed them to flourish in a different way than my family. But what I am saying is that I'm just as qualified. I just need the opportunity to show that I am. So Tim and Carrie both enter UCLA. Carrie gets in with the help of affirmative action. And Tim gets in because, you know, he has great grades and he did great on his SAT. But Tim and Carrie both graduate at the same time. Tim and Carrie both go on to be successful. Carrie's arguably more successful.

And that is the benefit of affirmative action. Someone who normally would not get the opportunity based on their circumstances. I cannot be faulted, but this country does allow that to happen. I should not be faulted for being born into circumstances that are underprivileged. I deserve to have an opportunity. I deserve to have the right to sit in classes at UCLA, learn and prove that I do belong because affirmative action doesn't take your test for you. Affirmative action doesn't do your exams. Affirmative action doesn't write the many papers that I wrote.

Affirmative action didn't work the three jobs that I worked during my time in college, Tim didn't have to work. And I'm happy Tim didn't have to work. His parents had money. He didn't have to drive back and forth in the middle of the night from whatever local restaurant he had to host at so that he could pay for his school books because his parents had money and I am not faulting Tim. But what I am saying is that a system that doesn't take those things into consideration is unfortunate. We're not asking for a handout. We're just asking for a little help up. Hold the door open. Hold it open. I'll walk right on in and I'm going to kick ass when I get there. I don't need you to do anything else, but just hold this door open.

I don't need you to give me any money. I don't need you to teach me how to read, write or take my or do the exams for me or help me or push me through school and give me any extra special favor. Support is great, right? I would love that, but I don't need it. And thank goodness affirmative action was in play when I was at UCLA because I would love that but I don't need it and thank goodness affirmative action was in play when I was at UCLA because I would not have had the opportunity to show those who did not believe that I could and so in real time we're watching our society remove very important rights for the marginalized.

And I hear all the time, and I'm gonna get real real with you guys, Carrie, what do you know about that? You know, you're successful, you have money, you da da da da. Yeah, because I work hard. I absolutely do. But I still can't forget what I didn't have. And I still cannot forget how hard I have worked to get to this point. And I still don't forget that when I walk in a room, you see my color before you see me. And unfortunately, because society is not colorblind, like the Supreme Court would like us to believe, it's always an issue in some form or fashion. At this big old age, I'm still proving myself. At this big old age, I have to pull out my resume and tell people what I've done. And I don't mind. But what I do mind is closing the door to those who are just asking for a little help in the sense of hold it open.

You know how like the visual of you're racing to get to an appointment and you want to get on the elevator and it's only one elevator and it's about to close and you really don't want them to close the elevator because you got to get to this appointment and someone is kind and generous enough to say, oh no, I got it. And you see this hand come out of nowhere and it holds the door open and you hop in and you're like, oh, that's a relief. I got to get ready for this appointment. I need to be there in 30 seconds. You really helped me out. I appreciate you, sir. What does it matter? What does it matter? What does it matter? That person who helped the elevator for you, for me, for whomever, what does it matter to them? In fact, you should feel good about helping somebody.

And unfortunately, we don't see it that way. Supreme Court anyway doesn't see it that way. Katonji Brown Jackson, Justice Katonji Brown Jackson, let me make sure I get that right. I'm a little too familiar. In her dissent, in her message that she wrote, she said, no one benefits from ignorance. And that was an ignorant decision. affirmative action does not take spots away from people who deserve them it creates more opportunity for those who are overlooked who are pushed into the corners the marginalized it all levels out it really does no one is coming for your job if it's your job. No one is coming for your college position if it is yours to have. No one. And I know some of you don't see it that way. I know you don't.

And that's fine. But we forget what this country was built on. We're not colorblind. We're not. We're not bias-blind either. So, my hope is that if you're listening, We're not. We're willing to use your platform to talk about the benefits of affirmative action or how can you help? Because this is a grassroots effort. I'm off my soapbox. We'll be back next week with another edition of Naked. Truly appreciate you all for listening. Glickman? Historical Records brings history to life through hip-hop.

Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history, like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it. And it began with me. Did you know, did you know? I wouldn't give up my seat. Nine months before Rosa, it was called a moment. Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records. Because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome to Gracias Come Again, a podcast by Honey German, where we get real and dive straight into todo lo actual y viral. We're talking música, los premios, el chisme, and all things trending in my cultura. I'm bringing you all the latest happening in our entertainment world and some fun and impactful interviews with your favorite Latin artists, comedians, actors, and influencers. Each week, we get deep and raw life stories, combos on the issues that matter to us,

and it's all packed with gems, fun, straight-up comedia, and that's a song that only nuestra gente can sprinkle. Listen to Gracias Come Again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Dani Shapiro, host of the hit podcast Family Secrets. How would you feel if when you met your biological father for the first time, he didn't even say hello? And what if your past itself was a secret and the time had suddenly come to share that past with your child? These are just a few of the powerful and profound questions

we'll be asking on our 11th season of Family Secrets. Listen to season 11 of Family Secrets on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.